What is a Joint Will?
A Joint Will is a single legal document which records the Wills of more than one person (typically a married couple). A Joint Will records the dispositions, or gifts, of each spouse and, when one spouse passes away, probate is obtained of the Joint Will in respect of the deceased spouse. There are strict rules as to what constitutes a Joint Will.
One difference between a Joint Will and Mutual Wills is that a Joint Will can be altered or cancelled at any time before or after the death of the first spouse. A surviving spouse could therefore change the Joint Will after death.
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Who are the parties to a Joint Will?
The parties are typically:
- Husband; and
- Wife.
How does a Joint Will work?
The parties make joint disposals of their gifts to the beneficiaries. A Joint Will is a single legal document, compared to Mirror Wills which are 2 separate legal documents.
Who may need a Joint Will?
- Married couples
- Co-habiting partners
- Civil partners
Please note, however, that our Will Lawyers would generally not recommend preparation of Joint Wills for most clients. Most couples would be better served by preparing Mirror Wills, however if you are in any doubt, please speak with one of our Will Lawyers today.
When should you create a Will?
Wills are an important component of effective Estate Planning and upon death there can be very practical consequences, including taxation, for having no Will in place. We recommend that you make a Will straightaway if you do not already have one. If you and your spouse would both like to write Wills, we would recommend you consider making Mirror Wills, however please contact one of our Will Lawyers to have a confidential conversation and discuss your preferences.
How long does it take to create a Joint Will?
Creating a Joint Will is an involved journey, which involves our Will Lawyers getting to know you, your partner and your wishes relating to your estates. Creating Joint Wills can therefore take up to 2-4 weeks, although if you have more urgent deadlines, we can often accommodate them. If you have urgent deadlines, please let our Will Lawyers know at the outset.
How much does a Joint Will Cost?
Wherever possible, we like to keep our legal fees fixed for our Estate Planning services. Our legal fees for preparing standard Joint Wills are £349.00, however if your Joint Will is more complicated, our fees may vary. To receive confirmation of your quote from our Will Lawyers, please leave your contact details on this webpage and we’ll contact you by the next Business Day.
When can I Start?
We have capacity to begin preparing Joint Wills straightaway, however preparing Wills is only one component of effective Estate Planning. To discreetly discuss your circumstances with one of our Estate Lawyers, please leave your contact details on this webpage and one of our Estate lawyers shall be in touch with you by the next Business Day.